With the “naughties” coming to a rapid close, The Border Mail asked Wooding to pick the best 12 players he had seen this decade earlier this month.

The former player, author of 150 not out and long-time umpire, selector and administrator has more authority on the subject than most local cricket followers, but even Wooding admitted to having serious trouble selecting a final team.

“No one will ever agree 100?per?cent on the team I picked, so in many ways it was an exercise in futility,” he said with a laugh this week.

“People will always argue against your selections, and my views will always be different to others.

“It was harder than I thought.”

On his team, Wooding said “half-a-dozen players picked themselves” — names such as current Tallangatta all-rounders Steve Wood and Andrew Lade, star West Indian import Kelvin Williams and Lavington legend Steve Wright.

But Wooding agonised over “trying to squeeze about 20 good players” into the remaining eight positions.

There were several big names not included in Wooding’s team, including Victorian Test player Andrew McDonald, NSW veteran Dominic Thornely and junior stars such as David Farrell and Joey Loorham.

Wooding said he realised the omission of McDonald and Thornely could be viewed as controversial, but he wanted to select players based on their contribution to local competitions, rather than their careers outside the Border.

“Andrew and Dominic are obviously the two big names that have come through here in the last decade, but they didn’t do a whole lot over a long period of time here like some other players did,” he said.

“They both weren’t around for that long and I didn’t include them for that reason.”

Wooding is still impressed with the standard of cricket locally, but said the art of captaincy had regressed significantly in recent years.

“A captain’s role in a game of cricket is paramount, but it’s a part of cricket in Albury that has gone backwards,” he said.

“A captain has to get the best from his team and the role is often overlooked.

“Too often teams select their best player as captain but often they aren’t the best option and aren’t proactive in field placing or bowling changes.

“Sometimes I think the captains today don’t understand the game — captaincy is the weakest part of cricket in Albury and Wodonga today.”

But still, the self-confessed cricket tragic still loves the sport and said thinking back on the decade brought some brilliant memories flooding back.

“Trying to select the best team of the decade was a lot of fun and even though a lot of people will disagree with my choices, I enjoyed the challenge,” Wooding said.

JOE WOODING’S TEAM OF THE DECADE

Rod Barton (c)

“He came in from Dederang and was a really good right-hand opening batsman — I rate him as probably the best opener from the last 10 years.

“He was also a very useful wicketkeeper and an excellent captain.”

Luke Restall

“He hasn’t played a lot of rep cricket compared to some players which is a pity, but he plays beautifully straight and his record is as good as any getting around.”

Ben Stewart

“A fine batsman, one of the most correct I’ve seen. As a steady no.3, I can’t think of anyone better than Ben because he was so reliable. He was also a handy bowler capable of holding down an end.”

Steve Wright

“He could’ve been anything. He’s always been associated with Dominic Thornely because they played all their junior cricket together and in all honesty Steve could have done as much as Dom.”

Greg Daniel

“He’s another very correct batsman who can compile a big score and is also a fair off-spin bowler. A genuine all-rounder.”

Steve Wood

“Ten years ago, he was express. He was so rapid and even though his pace has dropped away in recent years, he still takes a lot of wickets. He’s also scored 17 centuries, which speaks for itself. There was no way I could leave him out of this team.”

Nathan Thompson

“Settling on a keeper was probably the hardest choice of this whole process. But I was speaking to Andrew Lade about Nathan recently and he rates him as the best keeper he’s seen in 10 years. He can also score hundreds in quick time and I was happy to name him as my keeper.”

Kelvin Williams

“He really could bat and bowl — he’d almost be wasted at no.8, but I couldn’t fit him in any higher. He was so big and strong and fearsome, but also a nice, gentle bloke off the pitch. He could bowl for long periods and was so accurate and no batsman ever got on top of him.”

Andrew Lade

“He’s another one who could have batted even higher, because he really is a top-class batsman. He bowls really tight left-arm spinners but I’d love to have seen him bowl a bit slower like he did in his younger days, because he had a real talent there. An automatic selection.”

Gary Elliot

“I tossed and turned about selecting him. But he was one of the most damaging bowlers on his day I’ve ever seen. He was able to swing a 4-piece ball like it was a 2-piece ball. He could also swing the bat as well.”

Heath Naughton

“He’s been around a long time and he’s another really talented cricketer. What got him over the line was his commitment — he always gave 100?per?cent and he’s got a big heart.”

Damien Baker (12th man)

“Probably unlucky not to get in the XI but I couldn’t work out who I could take out to fit him in. He was, and still is, a very fine bowler.”